'Dorothy' is the second release on Lion Music for Italian progressive metal act Moonlight Comedy who led by Emilianio Germani on vocals, bring their almost neo-classical metal fusion of both retrospective and innovative musical sounds, together with the more melodic hardened metal tones to create the very soul of the whole Moonlight Comedy sound.

The album is built on a massive sound base of keyboards courteously of Gianluigi Farina, a hugely layered guitar sound provided by Simone Fiorletta and a pounding rhythm section from bass player Armando Pizzuti and drummer Andrea Scala.

The album gets underway with the narrative intro ‘Desire & Whisper’, before the full Moonlight Comedy sound is unleashed with ‘Solar Eclipse’, as Fiorletta and Germani duel vocals and guitars against each other to great effect, together with the pulsating rhythm section at the heart of it all.  I’ve truly never heard an opener so intense and grandiose on an album in a very long time.

Things continue along a similar path but with a more metal charged edge with the equally impressive ‘Fallen Under’.  Another thunderous bass ridden track combined with some great keyboard and guitar solo’s thrown into the mix for good measure.  All backed once again by the quite remarkable vocals of Germani.

By the time you get to the flamboyant anthemic hooks and electro rhythms of ‘The Sea And Time Of Mars’, all that you have known about the whole progressive metal scene will seem somewhat obsolete as Moonlight Comedy re-write the book.

There's even time to bring a little jazz funk fusion into the mix for the intro into the next track ‘Metamorfosi’ and beyond, with the more intense nature of the whole bands sound being felt on this sublime multi layered track, that has more twists and turns than a bucket full of snakes.

A more relaxed pace is chosen as the haunting melodies of ‘Lunar Eclipse’ take over and Germani shows he can both bring it down, as well as dish out the power vocals on this one.  This tone remains well into the next track ‘Into Whispers & Desire’, before things pick up again mid way through the track with Germani giving his best vocal performance so far.

It's not long before we delve into the more traditional metal sound as the band raise the bar once more with ‘Imperfect Mind’.  This track is a real treat for those of you into flurrying keyboards and spellbinding guitar riffs, this track is crammed full of them, so go on, really knock yourself out with this one.

There's just a short rest bite in between the intense nature of the album as keyboard maestro Farina puts his talents on display for ‘Dust Of The Past’, a track that acts as an intro into the next track ‘…And Why Not?’.  A real riff laden track which gives Fiorletta his chance in the spotlight as he shreds like there no tomorrow.  The track starts off slowly but soon builds into a sparkling crescendo of guitar, bass and drums, all over a background of soaring keyboards.

The album closes with ‘Side Effects’, another slow burner of track.  This time with a gentle guitar intro which melts into a pounding drum and keyboard ensemble, which in turn leads into a powerhouse vocal then the whole band interlock in a mix of progressive undertones mixed with a little nu-metal influence.  All balanced out once more by some fantastic vocals.  Just as you think the track is over there is a resurgence of life led by a punchy bass and double kick drum which are then interwoven into a melodic vocal, all of which is just magical to listen to and as the track comes to its dramatic climax, it leaves you wanting more as the album ends as it began with a narrative end.  This brings to an end a great, no superlative piece of progressive metal that will be hard to beat this year.  

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